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Sara Wahedi

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Sara Wahedi
Born
Sara Wahedi

(1995-01-23) 23 January 1995 (age 29)
NationalityAfghan-Canadian
EducationColumbia University
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, Businesswoman

Sara Wahedi (born 23 January 1995) is an Afghan-Canadian tech entrepreneur and humanitarian.[1] She is the Chief Executive Officer of Civaam,[2] founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ehtesab, a civic technology startup in Kabul, Afghanistan.[3][4]

Biography

[edit]

Wahedi was born in Kabul. Wahedi and her family emigrated from Kabul and settled in Canada in 2005.[5] Wahedi founded Ehtesab in 2018.[6][7] She started the company with $2,500 of her own savings and later attracted investment from a New York-based tech design entrepreneur, and Netlinks, one of Afghanistan's largest IT companies, which contributed an additional $40,000.[3] Ehtesab enables its users to report on local incidents, establishing it as Afghanistan's first citizen engagement platform.[8] It provides real-time security alerts and updates in three languages.[6] The app combats misinformation by providing real-time updates on Kabul's security, energy, and traffic situations.[9] In 2021, it proved especially valuable to residents during the bombings, roadblocks, and attacks that occurred as the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. At that time, the company employed 20 people.[10] The app is developing covert platforms to enable women to discreetly access healthcare, education, and employment services, thereby bypassing Taliban surveillance and restrictions.[8][11]

In 2024, Wahedi earned a bachelor's degree in urban studies with a concentration in architecture from Columbia University.[12] She also serves on the board of Rukhshana Media, a news organization focused on women’s issues in Afghanistan.[13] She has also completed an internship with Apple, where she worked with teams specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning.[14]

Accolades

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  • Wahedi was recognized as one of TIME Magazine's Next Generation Leaders in 2021.[15]
  • Wahedi has been named as Clarendon Scholar to attend Oxford University in 2024.[16]
  • She was listed among MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35 in 2022.[17][18]
  • In 2023, she was awarded as Entrepreneur of the Year by One Young World.[12][19]
  • Wahedi was included in Top 100 inspiring and influential women by BBC in 2021.[15]
  • In 2023, she was named to Forbes "30 Under 30" list for Social Impact.[20]
  • In 2023, she was inducted into GS Honor Society.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Murgia, Madhumita (August 22, 2021). "Homegrown app helping Kabul residents steer clear of danger". Financial Times. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Sara Wahedi | Blavatnik School of Government". www.bsg.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Afghan-Canadian entrepreneur's new mobile app helps keep civilians updated on nearby security issues". The Globe and Mail. August 24, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  4. ^ Parkin, Benjamin; Manson, Katrina; Kazmin, Amy (August 14, 2021). "US sends more troops as Kabul braces for Taliban onslaught". Financial Times. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Q&A: Afghan Tech CEO Sara Wahedi". New York City News Service. May 26, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Duffy, Kate. "The founder of a Kabul-based startup says she deleted details of her female staff to protect them as the Taliban neared the city". Business Insider. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Sengupta, Trisha (September 24, 2023). "Entrepreneur shares pic of Kabul's women-run eatery before Taliban takeover". Hindustan Times.
  8. ^ a b Fair, Vanity (January 23, 2024). "A Brave New World". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "Refugee advocate develops app to bring real-time protection to people in Afghanistan". www.unrefugees.org. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Mansoor, Sanya (October 13, 2021). "This Tech CEO Helps Fellow Afghans Feel Safer Every Day". TIME. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "Fear over dystopian change to nation's shop windows: 'Erasing women'". Yahoo News. January 22, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Sara Wahedi". interview-her.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "Rukhshana Media Board of Trustees". Rukhshana Media. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "Sara Wahedi GS'24 named Clarendon Scholar | Undergraduate Research and Fellowships". urf.columbia.edu. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". December 7, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "Sara Wahedi GS'24 named Clarendon Scholar | Undergraduate Research and Fellowships". urf.columbia.edu. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Sara Wahedi". Forbes. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  18. ^ "Sara Wahedi". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Introducing the Winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 supported by TFG Asset Management | One Young World". www.oneyoungworld.com. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  20. ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2023: Social Impact". Forbes. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  21. ^ "76 Students Inducted into the GS Honor Society". urf.columbia.edu. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
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